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Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

post #1 of 160
12/31/06 at 2:59pm
Thread Starter 
I have been watching a lot of new remastered DVD's recently, including the new Bond UE's and just saw the first 3 Star Trek films. Since I got a new HD display last year, I can really appreciate how the transfers look.

It was a surprise to me to see how Star Trek The Motion Picture looked. I thought it looked a bit washed out. I was surprised as I thought it was a very fine transfer from November 6, 2001. Then I saw Star Trek II- The Wrath of Khan and was hugely surprised to see a difference. TWOK had a solid picture, good color and contrast and sharpness. The Wrath of Khan was released as a Directors Edition 9 months after The Motion Picture Directors Edition. I had thought there might have been enough of a gap that transfer processes had improved to make a difference.

I know that there will be an eventual high definition version out, but I was wondering if there might be one more re-issue of the films on SD DVD, ala the Bond UE. Of course the cynical here will say of course, the studio will do what it can to milk the fans. I don't necessarily feel they want to milk us, but each has their opinion. The release of Star Trek 11 could influence a new DVD release too.

Below are captures to illustrate what I mean. The top image is from Star Trek-The Motion Picture DE and the one below is from The Wrath of Khan DE. Since the Wrath of Khan took the same footage as a production cost saver, it was a convenient shot to use so you see the same image.



Star Trek 3 SE looked pretty good too. I have to see the other 3 films and see how they look. I'm sure particualrly Star Trek 6 SE will be quite good as it's a more recent film transfer.
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post #2 of 160
12/31/06 at 3:37pm

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

After the re-releases, SCE * Director's Editions, all anamorphic, I doubt we'll see anything like this soon.
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post #3 of 160
12/31/06 at 3:40pm

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

I'm sure there will be something with the release of the next Trek movie either theatrically or on video. They'll probably use new transfers that will also be used on the first HD releases too.
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post #4 of 160
12/31/06 at 9:57pm

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

This IS Paramount (who loves to milk TREK to death) we are talking about so eventually there will be another release I would imagine.
Interestingly when ST:TMP goes to HD there will have to be some FX tweaking. I seem to recall that all of the newer FX that was made to look kinda 1979 style, (new VGER stuff etc,...) was only done in 480P I believe.
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post #5 of 160
1/1/07 at 1:00am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

New editions, maybe... but new transfers? I'd be surprised. The season sets of the original Trek series featured the same transfers as the (much) earlier single-volume DVDs, as I recall... I have all ten of the CE Trek films, and I can honestly say I wouldn't buy them again.
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post #6 of 160
1/1/07 at 5:30am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

If Paramount re-releases "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country", I'd buy it. It's one of my favorite "Star Trek" films, but I still don't own it on DVD because of what Nicholas Meyer unnecessarily added to the SE. If Paramount wants to milk me one more time I wouldn't mind also the original theatrical cut of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (I have nothing against the current Director's Edition, I just haven't gotten around to getting it). One of these days I'll see the Director's Edition of "Star Trek II".
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post #7 of 160
1/1/07 at 7:51am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

The theatrical cut of Star Trek II is already available as a single disc with an anamorphic transfer. The theatrical cut of Star Trek The Motion Picture has never been available, I would like to see that released. Star Trek VI has not had either of the two previous versions of the film available in an anamorphic transfer either.
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post #8 of 160
1/1/07 at 8:45am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

For being a completely new edition of TMP, with all new effects, I was stunned at how dirty the print is. All-new edition or not, it desperately needs a remastering.
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post #9 of 160
1/1/07 at 2:06pm

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent-P
The theatrical cut of Star Trek II is already available as a single disc with an anamorphic transfer. The theatrical cut of Star Trek The Motion Picture has never been available, I would like to see that released. Star Trek VI has not had either of the two previous versions of the film available in an anamorphic transfer either.

That's not true for the CE of Star Trek VI - it is an anamorphic transfer. Nicholas Meyer did however maintain the near 2:1 ratio from the original widescreen transfer (for laserdisc, later used for the first DVD release) of the Super35 elements for the new version instead of giving us the original theatrical ratio of 2.4:1.

It is true that the original theatrical cut of Star Trek The Motion Picture is not (and never was) available on DVD - but it was previously available as a widescreen laserdisc and VHS release. I too would love the original cut to come to DVD some day. While I don't mind the Director's Cut effort overall, there are some things that still bother me about it.
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post #10 of 160
1/1/07 at 5:24pm

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nelson Au
Star Trek 3 SE looked pretty good too.
Star Trek IV looks good-- haven't seen the first two or anything after IV-- but III has excessive grain throughout. To the point of being intrusive. Particularly noticeable during the opening credits. Were any of these remastered for the DE/SCE releases?

--THX
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post #11 of 160
1/1/07 at 6:25pm

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ArthurTHX
Were any of these remastered for the DE/SCE releases?
They all were as far as I know. But that doesn't mean that some of the original film elements weren't heavy with grain to begin with.
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post #12 of 160
1/1/07 at 7:40pm

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Joel, you misunderstood me. I said the previous two versions of Star Trek VI. The version on the SCE is neither the theatrical cut or the extended video version. Meyer rejiggered it some more for that release, adding in flashbacks during the mind-meld rape scene.
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post #13 of 160
1/1/07 at 7:47pm

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

I also remember that the newer FX for TMP were done at a lower resolution (thus eliminating the possibility of a theatrical release) so they will indeed need to rework the FX at a higher resolution for any future HD release......cleaning up the rather dirty (in spots) transfer would be nice as well I agree.
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post #14 of 160
1/1/07 at 7:48pm

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

I also got a large HDTV and am desperate to find time for the Trek movies.

My biggest fear (since I only watched the extras) is that First Contact and Insurrection may be botched on the SCE releases.

As I recall from screen shots, FC was badly cropped on the left side and soften from the previously very sharp barebones DVD release.

Don't recall if Insurrection was tinkered with too, but some of these new Bond reissues have created a sense that older is better (Witness SCE anyone?).
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post #15 of 160
1/2/07 at 5:08am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ArthurTHX
Star Trek IV looks good-- haven't seen the first two or anything after IV-- but III has excessive grain throughout. To the point of being intrusive. Particularly noticeable during the opening credits. Were any of these remastered for the DE/SCE releases?

--THX

I think III looks better than I and II, personally.
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post #16 of 160
1/2/07 at 6:05am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Quote:
My biggest fear (since I only watched the extras) is that First Contact and Insurrection may be botched on the SCE releases.

The First Contact CE is *very* nice from an A/V perspective. While the first release was anamorphic, many scenes seemed overly dark and soft. The overall contrast, detail, and balance on the CE places the First Contact transfer right up there with Nemesis as one of the best transfers to date of a Star Trek movie.

The Insurrection CE video transfer is disappointedly "soft" compared to the "bare bones" edition. However, EE is totally absent, and the audio portion of the presentation is much improved over the previous edition. I would still consider it an upgrade.
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post #17 of 160
1/2/07 at 7:10am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Thanks for the info Joe. If I can, I'll watch all 10 movies in order on my new HDTV.

It is frustrating though that video quality varies so widely, without simply being a factor of age.

My recollection is that Khan looks consistently better than Generations and there's really no excuse for that.
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post #18 of 160
1/2/07 at 7:58am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

what? kahn is the most consistently WORST transfer EVER of all of the star treks. the only reason why Generations looked bad on the latest transfer is because of the over-zealous use of edge-enhancements.

paramount is TERRIBLE when it comes to treating visual qualities of its Trek franchise. i have not seen a transfer i really like in any of the series. FC, INS and Nem is the best transfer because they are the newest entries into the franchise, NOT because there was care in transferring them. ST1-6 looks like crap compared to a franchise like Star Wars or even the latest remastered Bond or even the number of classics released by Criterion from films in the 1930s!!! how can films made in the last 30 years look WORSE than films in 80+ years ago! that is stupid and ludicrous.

being a huge trekkie, i gobbled up the Star Trek DVD's when it was first released (non-anamorphic) even knowing the SE's were on their way down the pipeline. i just couldn't wait! when i bought the SE's to replace the entire collection (yes every trek movie) of NON-SE's, i expected leaps and bounds in audio and visual quality. i got neither. you call this SE? holy crap, anything could be better than this. to put it simply, these Trek transfers in SE are a travesty and a cluster-F. even schlock films gets better treatment than this.

if trek is such a beloved franchise in the studio's eyes, why not throw in a lowry digital transfer. trek deserves this MORE than franchises like Bond or even classics like Wizard of Oz, Gone w/Wind. this is one of the most sore points no1's really touted.

they should gives a REAL remaster both video AND audio and put them out on HD-DVD/BluRay. hopefully TrueHD or DTS-HD Master
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post #19 of 160
1/2/07 at 9:28am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joseph Bolus
The Insurrection CE video transfer is disappointedly "soft" compared to the "bare bones" edition. However, EE is totally absent, and the audio portion of the presentation is much improved over the previous edition. I would still consider it an upgrade.

Am I the only one that hears severe distortion in the Insurrection SE's dialogue channel, certainly in the DTS mix? Listen to F. Murray Abraham's scream near the end when his plan fails. It's intolerably bad.

John
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post #20 of 160
1/3/07 at 7:36pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Quick update, I posted a question for the man himself who supervised the visual effects for Star Trek The Motion Picture, DE.

He very kindly answered. He's interested himself as to what Paramount will do for the HD transfer. For the Directors Edition, Paramount didn't budget the new CGI effects to be rendered at HD resolution. However, the materials do exist in HD resolution. So he says it's a matter of Paramount asking him and his associates who did the DE to come back and incorporate them into a new transfer.

I can't wait to see what comes of it!
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post #21 of 160
1/3/07 at 9:25pm

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

paramount cbs is 2cheap2do that. just as they've been doing with TOS remasters, they won't spend the $ on HD-res. they're probably just going to uprez is like firefly (from another studio of course) for Universal HD broadcast.

bastards!!!
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post #22 of 160
1/4/07 at 7:26am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

The Original Series is being broadcast on NBC in HD with new CGI in some scenes. Check your TV listings.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JediFonger
paramount cbs is 2cheap2do that. just as they've been doing with TOS remasters, they won't spend the $ on HD-res. they're probably just going to uprez is like firefly (from another studio of course) for Universal HD broadcast.

bastards!!!
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post #23 of 160
1/4/07 at 7:36am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Quote:
The Original Series is being broadcast on NBC in HD with new CGI in some scenes. Check your TV listings.

Actually, NBC has nothing to do with it. It's being syndicated to whatever stations that want to buy it.
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post #24 of 160
1/4/07 at 7:37am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Robertson
The Original Series is being broadcast on NBC in HD with new CGI in some scenes. Check your TV listings.

what, what, what?!

You mean Star Trek the original series? in HD? I hope it's true but most of all I hope it did not get cropped to 16:9.
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post #25 of 160
1/4/07 at 8:37am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

TOS can be seen in HD on the Xbox 360 in 16x9 and 4x3 in the same transfer according to this article: http://trekmovie.com/2006/12/18/vide...in-widescreen/
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post #26 of 160
1/4/07 at 8:54am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

The content is pillar-boxed, but the horizontal resolution (1080i in the case of my local NBC station) is there. No, it is not cropped to 16x9.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Rolando
what, what, what?!

You mean Star Trek the original series? in HD? I hope it's true but most of all I hope it did not get cropped to 16:9.
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post #27 of 160
1/4/07 at 8:57am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Correction-- *my* local NBC affiliate is broadcasting them.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ric Easton
Actually, NBC has nothing to do with it. It's being syndicated to whatever stations that want to buy it.
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post #28 of 160
1/4/07 at 9:41am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Quote:
kahn is the most consistently WORST transfer EVER of all of the star treks.

Well, it can't be expected to look like the other films. It was shot with dark moody lighting and seemingly a cheaper film stock. (It was, after all, produced by the television division, with a budget to match.)
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post #29 of 160
1/4/07 at 11:43am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

that's exactly the problem with it. they still treat it as TV. *sigh*.

aaanyway, re: TOS broadcast in HD. i need proof. my local NBC flicks HD on and off during popular primetime shows like Friday Night Lights and The Office so much that i wrote a complaint to management at my local broadcast. haven't heard back yet. lots of changes over there@NBC.

meanwhile, i doubt your NBC is broadcast TOS in HD. please snap a shot w/camera for proof. there are a lot of SD contents being shown in "hd" when it's really still SD upscaled.
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post #30 of 160
1/4/07 at 11:46am

Re: Remastered Star Trek films anytime soon?

Check out the 17 page thread in the TV section for proof one way or the other.
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